Personally, I find rectangular coolers easier to use and you get more volume for your money. I'm about the least handy guy in the world, but I found an easy way to convert them. See www.dennybrew,.com
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Life begins at 60....1.060, that is!
What do you mean a large or small 5 gallon batch? isn't 5 gallons always 5 gallons?
A "big" beer has a higher OG, so more grain. A "small" beer has a lower OG, so less grain. To brew anything "bigger" than a 1.060 5 gallon batch of beer, you need a larger cooler than 5 gal. For me, cuz I mash at 1.5 qt/lb instead of 1.25 qt/lb, I can't go much above a 1.045 5 gallon batch of beer in 5 gallon MLT.
I DO love my 15 gallon cooler though
__________________ Itchy Dog Brewery.
(As of 10-24-2011) Primary - Steppe 112 PA, 2x Monday RyePA Aging - None :-( On tap - Big Dog, Apfelwein, Steppe 112 PA
The round coolers are better for fly sparging, but I don't think they are any worse for batch sparging. As has already been mentioned, a 5g cooler will limit what you can brew.
-a.
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There are only 10 types of people in this world. Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
Based on everything I have read in here I think that I am going to go with the 10 gallon round cooler system in the link below from my LHBS. It should easily work for my 5 gallon brew batches, and it allows me to move into fly sparging down the road. Is there anything else I might need to make the move from extract to AG?
The number one thing that comes to my mind is a really big boil pot. I recently bought a 15 gallon MegaPot - it worked great for my first AG. (and the same mentality goes as with the MLT, if you're going to do 10 gallon batches, a 7 gallon pot won't be so good... oh and a propane burner that puts out some serious BTUs.
That's a great deal. The false bottom alone is like $40 or so new. The stainless coil would be a good score too - I got a copper one that cost about $30 or so.
Just built a 5G round MT for about $25-$30. I had some random parts and pieces laying around though. This will accompany my 12.5G square one though. You can have BOTH
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